Machine for squaring negatives and plates.



V. BOYLE.

MACHINE FOR SQUARING NEGATIVES AND PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED APRJB, 1913. 1,1 33,8, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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v. ROYLB. MACHINE FOR SQUARING NEGATIVES AND PLATES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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. mwi l ll u THE NORRI? PETE S 60.. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. c.

V. BOYLE. MACHINE FOB. SQUARING NEGATIVES AND PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

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V. BOYLE.

MACHINE FOR SQUARING NEGATIVES AND PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED APR 18, 1913.- 1,1 33 ,823, Patented Mar. 30,1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

VERNON BOYLE, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR SQUARING NEGATIVES AND PLATES.

Application filed April 18, 1913.

4 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Paterson, in the county of Passiac and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Squaring Negatives and Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a squaring machine for negatives and plates, with the 010-.

ject in .view of providing an easy, accurate and expeditious means for performing the several features of squaring negatives for inscribing the customary rectangular trimming lines upon negative films; locating etched metal plates in position to be marked with guide lines for the beveler and locating sets of color plates both for trimming and in reliable printing register. To this end, a squaring mechanism, a plate holding mechanism and registering pointers are assembled in cooperative relation one to another so thatany one or more of these mechanisms may be used at pleasure as the character of the work to be performed may require.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 1 represent a top plan view of the machine, Fig. 1 being a continuation of Fig. 1 from the lines A, A of Fig. 1, the work supporting table being shown in full lines in its right hand position and in dotted lines in its left hand position and the two pairs of hinged parallel rulers being shown turned down in their horizontal positions. Figs. 2 and 2 represent the machine in front elevation, Fig. 2 being a continuation of Fig. 2 from the line Y, Y, of Fig.

'2. Fig. 3 is a View in end elevation in detail of the registering pointers and their support, the pointers being shown in full lines out of operative position and in dotted lines in operative position; Fig. 4 is a ver-- tical section in the plane of the line A-A, Fig. 1, looking toward the right; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionin the plane of the line BB, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical section in detail in the plane of the line CC, Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a vertical section in detail in the plane of the line DD, Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a vertical section in detail in the plane of the line E'E, Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a detail plan view, partly in section, of the means for ad justing the hinged parallel rulers; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section in detail taken through the rack and pinionlfor sliding the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Serial No. 762,133.

bar which supports the hinged parallel rulers; Fig. 11 is a plan view in detail, showing the registering pointers in operative position; Fig. 12 is a plan view in detail of the table and devices for holding a printing plate when the registering pointers are in use; Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line FF, Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 is a vertical section in the plane of the line G-G of Fig. 12.

The base of the machine is denoted by 1. Intermediate its ends, a sturdy pillar 2' is secured and on this pillar a table frame 3 is pivoted by means of a sleeve 4 which surrounds the pillar and is made fast to the table frame. The sleeve 4 is provided with a laterally projecting stud 5 on which is mounted a bearing wheel 6 adapted to travel on a curved track 7, the latter located on a plate or lever 8, which conveniently embraces at one end, the sleeve 4 and projects forward spaced from the base 1, its outer end being provided with a nut 9. An adjusting screw 10, in the present instance, provided with knurled wheels 11 and 12, at its opposite ends, is swiveled in a bearing 13 on a stud 14 uprising from the base 1 and engages the nut 9.

' The sleeve 4 which carries the table frame, is free to move up and down to a limited extent on the pillar 2, as well as rotate on the pillar and the bearing face of the wheel 6 is so located that it will drop as it rollsover the opposite ends of the curved track 7, thereby locking the table frame against unintentional displacement at each of the two opposite ends of the curved track. This track is made of such length that the rotary movement of the table frame will be exactly an arc of 90, and to arrest the swing of the table exactly at the limits of an arc of 90, adjustable stops, in the present instance screws 4*, threaded in lugs 5* on the plate 8 in position to engage a projection 6* on the sleeve 4 at the opposite limits of its swinging movement and just as the bearing wheel 6 drops from the end of the track. The table proper, 15, is formed of suitable translucent material, -for example, heavy ground glass, and is securely fixed in the table frame 3. The table is located a sufficient distance above the base 1,

to freely admit daylight when the machine is placed in position by a window. Thus Whether artificial or natural light is depended upon, the position of the work on the translucent table and the'lines of the negative, when negatives are to be squared, are accurately determined. The bearing Wheel 6 hereinabove referred to, performsthe twofold function of assisting in supporting the table frame on its pillar and at the same timeof determining the extent ofthe rotary movement of the table frame and table.

As the machine is intended tohandle not only negatives, but also plates bearing etchbeveling and where a set of color plates is handled, accurate registering, the means pro The groove 18 is preferably V-shaped with its lower side projected beyond the upper side. The parallel jaws are pivotally secured to the ends of parallel arms 21, 22, and 23, 24, respectively, the said arms being fixed to rock shafts 25, 26, 27 and 28, one to each, the rock shafts being mounted in suitable bearings in the table frame 3.' The rock shaft 25 has an arm 29 connected by a spring 30 with an arm 31 on the shaft 26, the arms being so directed from the shafts and the tension of the spring so exerted as to tend to rock the jaw carrying arm 21, 22, in a direction to force the jaw 16 inwardly or toward the edge of the plate to be held. In like manner, the shafts 2-7, 28, are provided with arms 32, 33, connected. by a spring 34 tending to rock the jaw carrying arms 23, 24, in a direction to force the jaw 17 inwardly or toward the edge of the plate to be held. The shafts 26, 28, are further provided with arms 35, 36, connected by links 37, 38, with suitable fastening devices on the opposite sides of the axis of a rocking spindle 39 mounted in the table frame and operated by a handle 40 to simultaneously move the jaws 16, 17, outwardly or away from the opposite sides of a plate against the tension of the springs. 30, 34, to receive or release a plate. The tension of the springs 30, 34, is relied upon to hold the Work or work supporting plate in position to be operated upon. A. tail nut 41 working on a stem 42 about which the spindle39 rocks, serves to lock the spindle and hence the parallel jaws 16,17, in posilngs or engravings which require lines for tion when so desired. The parallel arms which carry a jaw are of equal length so that when the several arm supporting shafts are rocked, the jaws l6 and 17 will simultaneously move either toward or away from each other maintaining their parallelism throughout their movement.

A horizontal rock shaft 43 issupported in suitable bearings fixed to pillars 44, 45, np-' ing rack bar 49. The member 47 is in like I manner fixed to a bracket 50, the rear end of which embraces the shaft 43 and the rear portion of which has fixedthereto a laterally projecting rack bar 51/ The rack bars 49 and 51 extend in opposite-directions and overlap each other and are spaced apart with their rack teeth directed toward each other to engage the teeth on the opposite. sides of a toothed wheel 52, (see Fig. 6); The toothed wheel 52xis fixed to the lower end of a spindle 53, to which is attached'a' hand wheel 54, the hub 55 of which embraces and rests on a sleeve 56 uprising from a housing 57 in which thetoothedwheel 52 is located andthroughwhich the rack bars 49 and 51 extend. The housing 57 is fixed on the rock shaft 43 and hence it and the parts carried thereby must rock with the shaft and move bodily with the shaft as the latteris moved longitudinally. The squaring rulers 46, 47 may, however, be moved toward and away from eachother independently of the rock shaft 43, by' turning the hand wheel 54 and thereby through the engagement of thetoothed wheel 52 with the rack bars 49 and 51 sliding the ruler carry ing brackets. 48 and 50 toward and away from each otheralong the shaft '43. The rulers 46, 47, may be locked in position when so desired, by meansof a jam'nut 58 engaged with the screw-threaded upper end 59 of the stem 53. p 3

For indicating in units of measure the distance between the rulers 46, 47, a scale is provided on the base of the hub 55, as at 60, and a suitable indicator on the top of the housing 57, coacts with the scale so that the distance between the rulers may be read, in the present instance, in inches, whatevermay be their adjustment by the turning of the handwheel. It is obvious that the scale might be formed on the housing 57 and the indicator placed on the hub, if sodesired.

relation to the squaring rulers 61, 62, shall lie substantially in the vertical central plane of the table 15, when the latter is swung into the left hand position, shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, the central plane of the table being in the latter case at an angle of 90 to the central plane in the former case. Provision is also made for moving the shaft 43 and parts carried thereby bodily in a longitudinal direction as follows: A rack bar 63 is located transversely in the pillar 45, in proximityto the shaft 43 and held against longitudinal movement relative to the shaft by a tongue 64 on the bar, (see Fig. 10), which enters an annular groove 65 in the shaft. Thus the shaft 43 may rock without disturbing the rack bar 63, but when the latter is moved longitudinally, it carries the shaft 43 with it. The rack bar 63 is engaged by a toothed wheel 66 fixed to a spindle 67 (see Fig. 7), the latter having fixed thereon a hand wheel 68 for rotating the toothed wheel and hence operating the rack bar 63 and moving the shaft 43 longitudinally. A jam nut 69 engaged with the threaded upper end 70 of the stem 67, serves to lock the shaft 43 in the desired longitudinal adjustment. The shaft 43- is conveniently retained in either of its two positions with the squaring rulers down over the table or back out of the way, by'a presser bar 71 (see Fig. 8), actuated by a spring 72 and pressing against one or the other of two faces disposed at an angle'to one another on the heel of a shoe 73, fixed on the shaft 43. A bar 74 carried by an arm, 7 5, projecting laterally from the shaft 43, slides in an arm 76 projecting from the shoe 73, to cause the latter to rock in unison with the shaft 43.

For registering several plates of a set, for example, asst of color plates, so that they may be marked for trimming in harmony one with another,

registering pointers 77, 78, are mounted in cooperative and work supporting table, as follows: .A sturdy pillar uprising from the base 1, at or near the left hand'end of the base, has pivoted thereon a supporting bracket 79. The bracket has a vertical sleeve portion 80, which fits over the pillar and conceals the latter, the

said sleeve portion 80 being provided with a laterally extending stud 81, on which is mounted a bearing wheel 82, which travels on a curved track 83, and by dropping over February 7th,

or beveling the opposite ends of the track against an abutment, the abutment at one end of the track being shown at 84, Fig. 2, holds the bracket 79 either in its advanced position to bring the registering pointers in position to he used, or in its rearward position to carry the registering pointers out of the way. The bearing wheel 81, like the bearing wheel 6 hereinabove described, has the two-fold function of relieving the friction of the if sleeve 80 on its pillar and also holding the bracket in different swung positions. The bracket 79 has upwardly extending arms 85, 86, which support the pointer carrying shaft 87. The manner of constructing the shanks of the pointers 77, 78, and of mounting them on the shaft 87 so that they maybe brought into proximity to the surface of the work and moved universally in a horizontal plane over the surface of desired registering point on the work are features specifically shown, described and claimed in my patent No. 983,648 granted 1911, entitled Apparatus for Registering Printing Plates, part of my present invention except so far as they coact with the plate squaring mechanism hereinabove described.

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the secondary plate holder 20 is shown provided with screw operated clamps, three in number, 88, 89, 90, working in slots 91, 92, 93, respectively formed in the body of the holder, the operating screws 94, .95, 96, being swiveled in the holder and having a threaded engagement with the clamps to slide them along the slots in the holder into and out of engagement with the opposite edges of a printing or other plate 97, resting on the holder. This group of three clamps will adjust themselves to the edges of an irregular as well as a regular shaped plate.

In operation, to square up a negative, clamp it between the, parallel jaws, with table in either of its two positions at right angles to each other, for example, in the right hand position shown in full lines, Fig. 1. Lower the parallel rulers and apply one of them to any reliable perpendicular line or indication on the subject. If there be any discrepancy between the line of the edge of the ruler and the said perpendicular or other reliable line, correct this by means of the subject-squaring table adjustment, to

wit: the screw 10, engaged with the nut 9 on the projecting plate 8, which latter carries with it the track 7 and the table supporting sleeve 4, locked to the track by the bearing wheel 6. The subject being thus brought to line perfectly with the rulers, the rulers are set to the given trimming width by means of the hand wheel 54, and then bodily moved with the shaft 43 by means of the hand wheel 68, in a lateral direction until they inclose the desired portion of the the work to locate any w and form no 7 v negative. The side lines for trimming are then ruled with a sharp knife. Next swing the table into its left hand position, shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, set the second pair of rulers to determine the desired height or,

the picture, move them bodily until they embrace thedesired content and complete the operation by ruling the top and bottom lines. The plate made from a negative thus treated, has its subject perfectly outllned in readiness for the machine-room operations. When an untrimmed metal plate is to be marked with. guide lines for a beveler, it may be held between the parallel jaws 16, 17, in the same manner as the negative, and manipulatedto provide it with the desired guide lines in all respects the same as with the negative already referred to. It is essential that all plates composing a set for color printing be trimmed not only square, but also in exact register with one another. In marking such a set all necessary setting of the machine is done with the first plate of the series, after which the remaining plates may be positioned and marked in rapid succession, as followsrFirst set and secure the two pairs of parallel rulers, one

v pair to the desired width of the plate and the other pair to the desired height of the plate. Then, with the table in one of its positions, clamp one of the plates centrally upon the secondary plate holder and square it up to therulers by the subject-squaring table adjustment hereinabove referred to. Next determine the lateral content in the manner already described, lock the rock shaft 43 fast in this position and inscribe the trimming lines for width. Now swing the table through its are of and by shifting the secondary plate holder along the jaws 16, 17 determine the vertical content of the picture from the already fixed rulers. This done, inscribe the trimming lines for height. It now remains to record the posi tion of this first plate as a guide in setting the remaining plates of the set. T 0 do this, swing the table back to its original position and swing the registering pointer support into operative position so that the registering pointers may be turned down and set to the engravers register marks or other suitable points in the subject. The plate may then be removed from the holder. In handling each succeeding plate, begin by ad justing it upon the secondary holder by means of the three screw operated clamps, so that its registering points shall accurately conform to the positions of the registering pointers previously set. As both pairs of rulers have already been set to correspondwith this position, the plate can be at once inscribed for width and then swung over and inscribed for height or length and the operation is completed.

The machine as thus described substitutes mechanical accuracy where heretofore manual inaccuracy has been common, and materially expedites the manipulation of nega-' tives and printing plates for squaring and reg stering. r What I claim is:

1. Ina machine for squaring negatives and plates, a horizontally bodily swinging table for presenting the work in positions at right angles to each other and means in cooperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work. i

2. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a horizontally swinging table pivoted at one corner, for presenting the the work and for holding the table in different positions.

4. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a bodily swinging, overhanging, translucent table for supporting the work and means in cooperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

5. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a horizontally bodily swinging table for supporting thework, means for arresting the swinging movement of ,the table at the ends of an arc of 90 and means in cooperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work. 7

6. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a horizontally swingingv table for supporting the work, a bearing wheel tive relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

8. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a swinging table for supporting the work, a'plate or lever provided with stops for controlling the swinging movement of the table, means for adjusting the plate or lever and thereby the table and means in cooperative relation to the table for locatinga marginal line on the work.

9. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a swinging table for supporting.

rec

the work, a swinging plate or lever on which the table bears, adjustable stops on the swinging plate or lever for accurately determining the swing of the table relative to the plate and means in cotiperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

' 10. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a swinging table forsupporting the work, a swinging plate or lever provided with a curved track, a bearing wheel fixed to move with the table and adapted to travel on the track and means in coeperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work. p

11. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a swinging table for supporting the work and provided with a bearing wheel, a plate or lever provided with a curved track -on which the said wheel is adapted to travel, the track being of such length that the wheel rolls over the end of the track at the opposite ends of the intended swinging movement of the table to hold the table in position and means in cooperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

12. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a swinging table for supporting the Work, a plate or lever on which the table bears and mounted to swing, the

' said plate or lever being provided with stops for limiting the swing of the table relative'to the plate or lever, a swlveled screw engaged with a free end of the plate or lever for squaring the work with the subject and resetting the table square with the rulers and rulers in coiiperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

13. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a pair of gripping jaws having their faces provided withveshaped grooves, the lower faces of the grooves being projected beyond.

the upper faces, for holding the work on the table and means in cooperative relation to the table for locating a marginal line on the work.

14:. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table'for supporting the work, a pair of gripping jaws each supported by a pair of rocking arms, rock shafts from which said arms project and a manually operated shaft or spindle connected with certain of the rock shafts for simultaneously operating them and hence the gripping aws. 7

15. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a pair of spring-actuated gripping jaws for holding the work on the table, and means for simultaneously operating the jaws against their spring tension.

16. In a machine for squaring negatives holding the work on the table and means for positively holding the jaws in gripping contact with the work or permitting them to be held under spring tension at pleasure.

17; In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a pair of spring-actuated gripping jaws for holding the work on the table, a rocking spindle, means connecting the rocking spindle with the jaws for manually operating both with and against their spring tension and a jam nut engaged with the rocking spindle for locking the jaws in set or released positionsor leaving them free to act under spring tension.

18. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work and a plurality of pairs of rulers mounted in position to swing into and out of position over the table for locating the marginal lines to determine the length and breadth of the negative or plate.

19. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a rock shaft near the table, rulers connected to rock with the shaft into and out of position over the table, means for moving the rulers along the shaft and means for moving the shaft longitudinally together with the rulers.

v20. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a rock shaft near the table, rulers connected with the shaft to rock'with it and slide along it, overlapping rack bars connected with the rulers one with each, a toothed wheel commonto the two rack bars and a spindle for manually operating the toothed wheel and simultaneously moving the rulers toward and away from each other.

21. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work,

a rock shaft mounted near the table, rulers connected to rock with the shaft and slide along the shaft, rack bars attached to the rulers one to each, a toothed wheel common to the rack bars, a spindle for manually operating the toothed wheel to move the rulers toward and away from each other and a jam nut for locking the spindle and hence the rulers in the desired position.

22. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a rock shaft near the table, rulers connected with the rock shaft to rock with it and slide along it, a rack bar having a connection with the rock shaft by which the shaft is caused to move longitudinally with the rack bar while free to rotate relative to the rack bar, a toothed wheel in position to engage the teeth of the rack bar and a spindle for rotating the toothed wheel to move the rack bar and hence the shaft longitudinally.

its

23. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a rock shaft near the table, rulers connected with the rock shaft to rock with the shaft and slide along the shaft, a rack bar having a connection with the shaft, a toothed wheel for operating the rack bar, a spindle for operating the toothed wheel and a jam nut in position to lock thespindle and hence the rack barand shaft against longitudinal movement.

24. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table mounted to swing horizontally through an arc of 90 and two sets of rulers mounted to swing down into and up out of position over the table, one set being located in position to cooperate with the table when the latter is at one limit of its swinging movement and the other set in position to cooperate with the table when the latter is at the other limit of its swinging movement.

25. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, laterally movable rulers mounted to swing into and out of position over the table, a rotary spindle and mechanism intermediate the spindle and. rulers for moving them toward and away from each other, and adial and indicator in intimate relation to the spindle for indicating the units of distance between the rulers.

26. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a table for supporting the work, a squaring mechanism, registering pointers and a horizontally swinging support for the said registering pointers, the foregoing elements being arranged in cooperative relation.

27. In a machine for squaring negatives and plates, a horizontally swinging table for supporting the work, squaring mechanism in cooperative relation to the table,

registering pointers, a horizontally swinging support for the pointers and stops for limiting the swinging movements of both port in and out of operative relation, the

one to the other. a v l 29. In a machine for'squaring negatives and plates, a pivoted table for supporting the work, a plurality. of sets of squaring devices for operatingwhen the table is in dif-' ferent positions and a registering mechanism 1n cooperatlve relation to the table. 1

30. In a machme for squaring'negatlves and plates, plate-squaring mechanism, regis-' tering polnters. and a pivoted support for the pointers to move them into andoutof operative relation to the squaring mechanism.

and plates, a pivoted table for supporting the work, squaring rulers arranged to swing into and out of operative position over the table and registering pointers arranged to swing into and out of operative position over the table.

31. In a machine for squaring negatives In testimony thatI claim the foregoing I as my invention I have signed my name, in

presence of two witnesses, this first day of April, 1913. p

' 'VERNON ROYLE. Witnesses: r 1

HEBER BOYLE, F. J. BRADLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the" Commissioner of Patents.

WashingtomD. 0. 

